Jasmeet Bains, an Indian American physician and California Assemblymember, has announced her candidacy for Congress in California’s 22nd district, seeking to unseat Republican incumbent David Valadao.
Jasmeet Bains, noted for being the first Sikh American elected to the California state legislature, declared her Congressional campaign on July 16. Representing California’s 35th Assembly District since 2022, Bains has garnered attention as one of the most moderate Democrats in the chamber, with her work primarily concentrated on improving rural healthcare access, emergency response, and workforce development.
Bains emphasizes her identity as a physician rather than a career politician and cites her frontline experience as pivotal in understanding the challenges faced by Valley residents. She expressed her congressional bid as a response to the unmet needs of the community, particularly in holding their elected officials accountable. “I’m running for Congress because we deserve better than broken promises and backroom deals, and our communities are tired of getting left behind,” Bains stated in her announcement video. “We deserve a representative who will actually show up and stand up for the Valley.”
Her campaign centers on criticizing incumbent David Valadao’s political decisions, notably his support for the House GOP’s federal budget proposal, which Bains argues would negatively impact healthcare and food assistance programs crucial to the district. Bains accused Valadao of prioritizing political donors and D.C. insiders over the district’s constituents. She highlighted his vote that might reduce Medi-Cal funding—a crucial source of affordable healthcare in the community—and criticized potential increases in prescription drug prices and cuts to food assistance programs. “That’s not leadership—that’s betrayal,” Bains said of Valadao’s actions.
Jasmeet Bains was born in Delano to Punjabi Sikh immigrants and grew up working at her father’s auto dealership in Taft, California. Her personal experiences during the Great Recession, particularly related to the collapse of local healthcare services, motivated her to pursue a career in medicine. Bains holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Doctor of Medicine from the American University of Antigua.
Before stepping into the political arena, Bains served as a resident physician at Clinica Sierra Vista and later practiced at Omni Family Health. Her medical expertise was further amplified by her work with the California Emergency Medical Services Authority, and she held an appointment to the California Healthcare Workforce Policy Commission by former Governor Jerry Brown in 2017.
Bains underscores her commitment to her roots and professional background as the foundation of her congressional bid. “Caring for patients in rural communities, deploying to treat firefighters at wildfires—I’m there when people need me most,” she remarked, identifying these experiences as critical inspirations for her decision to run for Congress.
The outcome of this race could signify a notable shift in California’s 22nd district representation, as Bains brings a blend of local understanding and professional acumen to her Congressional campaign, seeking to focus on healthcare, economic stability, and community resilience.
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